Signal system and transmitter therefor



Apr. 24, 1923. 1,452,972

. M. HOPKINS SIGNAL SYSTEM AND TRANSMITTER THEREFOR Filed Aug. 12, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 5' F 92.

INVENTOR A TTORNEV Apr. 24, 1923,

R. M. HOPKINS smmu. SYSTEM AND TRANSMITTER THEREFOR Filed Aug. 12, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEY Apr. '24, 1923.

R. M. HOPKINS SIGNAL SYSTEM AND TRANSMITTER THEREFOR Filed Aug. 12, 1918 4 Sheets-Shut 4 Patented Apr. 24, 1923.

UNITED STATES- 1,452,972. PATENT creme;

RICHARD HOPKINS, or RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, AssrG o o AMERICAN TIoN or NEW ERSEY.

DIsTnroTTELEeaArH ooMrANY, or JERSEY our, NEW JEEsEY, A oonroan- Application filed August 12, 1918. Serial No. 249,460.

.T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD M. HOPKINS, a citizen. of the United States of America, and resident of Rutherford,-county of Bergen, and State of New Jersey, have invented a Signal System and Transmitter Therefor, of which the following is'a specification.

My invention relates to automatic transmitters designedto be operated automatically to transmit different signals according to difference in the circumstances leading to the operation of the transmitter, and to signaling systems ofwhich such transmitters form a part. An example of the class of transmitters referred to is afforded by the so-called water flow transmitter employed in systems of automatic supervision of sprinkler systems. Such a transmitter should give an alarm signal when water flow begins; should give a trouble signal when the supervisory circuit is broken or grounded or when, for any. other reason, the flow of current through the supervisory circuit ceases or decreases materially'; and, preferably, should give a signal indicating rewinding when such transmitter has been wound up and placed in condition for operation. My transmitter herein described isnot limited to use as a water flow transmitter only, but is adapted forvarious uses according'to the character of the circuit which controls it'and the character of the automatic or non-automatic devices of that circuit which by their operation cause the operation of the transmitter; for example, my transmitter maybe used in burglar alarm systems, fire alarm systems, etc. But a sprinkler supervisory system affords a good example of systems for whichmy transmitter 'is adapted, and in the following description, where reference is made to an external circuit or controlling circuit, such, a sprinkler supervisory circuit may be assumed to be the circuit referred to.

Heretofore, such automatic multi-signal transmitters have usually comprised two separate spring-actuated transmitting mechanisms together with a retard mechanism "and two controlling magnets, one magnet normally energized and the other magnet normally deenergized." Aside from the 001m plications attendant upon the use ofmore jthanone transmittingmechanism, (and it is desirable so far as possible to avoid complication in alarm transmitting devices particularly), there are several important "01)- ections to this old type of transmitterwhich are overcome in the present transmitter, in which only one transmitting mechanism and one controlling magnet are employed. Some of these objections, now overcome, fare as follows: 4

In the old type transmitterreferred to,the I fire signal transmitting mechanism, which in general operates onlyvery rarely, re- ,mained idle until -af1re signals'hould be sent; trouble signals, which in general are apt to be of more frequent occurrence' than fire signals, were sent by thetrouble signal transmitting mechanism, 'without causing operation of the fire signal mechanism, and any trouble which might develop in. the fire signal transmitter was not discovered in general, until that fire signal transmitter should have worked but failed to do' so; the result being a failure scored against the system. In the present transmitter,

since the same transmitting mechanism serves for both trouble andfiresignals, there I is much better supervision of the all-important fire signal feature. I

The use of a single set of transmitter contacts for transmitting all signals results in increased supervision over their proper action and decreases the liability of failure from this cause. In theold type of transniitter referred to, the transmitter contaets of the fire alarm transmitter sometimes become wedged closed and this fact is not always observed before the transmitter "is called upon to'operate. I In the old typo transmitterreferred to, trouble may develop in the controlling'l'nagnet which normally is not energized; but

if so, this fact will not be discovered until the instrument is to operate to send afire signal. Since in the present instrument but one magnet is used for all classes of signals, trouble in this magnet will resultin the sending of a trouble signal; Still other advantages of the transmitter might be mentioned. I

My invention therefore coniprises a single transmitting mechanism and a singlecontrolling magnet for all'classes of signals, together with suitable mechanism," contacts, and local circuits, whereby the arious" di ipresent fill ferent signals desired may be sent, as required; together with various other features, all as more fully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The objects of my invention are, to simplify and render more reliable transmitters of the type referred to, to increase the extent of automatic supervision in such instruments and decrease the chances of failure thereof, particularly in the transmission of fire signals, and to make the instrument more compact and for that reason better adapted for operating conditions.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment of my invention is illustrated. In said drawings:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of my improved transmitter, the door of the enclosing case having been removed, and Figure 2 shows a side view of the instrument, the enclosing case being shown in section; Figure 3 shows in detail elevation, and on a larger scale, certain of the contact devices of the instrument, and the operating cams therefor; Figure 41 shows a front elevation of the armature and magnet oole-pieces of the controlling magnet of the instrument, together with certain associated parts; Figure 5 shows a side elevation of the transmitter, looking from the direction opposite that from which Figure 2 is taken; Figure 6 shows a front elevation of the clock train of the instrument, parts being broken away to show other parts in rear; Figure 7 shows a perspective view of acontrolling cam of the instrument and associated parts; Figure 8 is a wiring diagram, illustrating the contacts and internal circuits of the instrument, also the external or controlling circuit; Figure 9 is a simplified wiring diagram, corresponding generally to Figure 8, but with the transmission circuit to the central station omitted and the other circuits arranged in simplified form; Fig. 10 is a simplified wiring diagram showing the circuit condi tion after the winding signal has been received; and Fig. 11, is a wiring diagram showing the operation of the circuits in case a trouble signal is caused by a ground, and illustrating the operation of the transposing springs in transposing the grounded point from the live side to the grounded side of the line.

In the drawings, 1 designates the controlling magnet, normally energized, between the arc-shaped pole pieces 2 of which works an oscillatory armature 3 having a counterweight 4 and a ratchet mechanism 5 by means of which, when weakening or deenergization of said magnet permits the counterweight to descend, a multiplying gear train leading to a fan 6 will be driven; the

whole constituting a well-known retard. mechanism whereby, when the magnet 1 weakens beyond some predetermined point, or is deenergized, the armature 3 rotates slowly under the retarding influence of the fan 6; the ratchet mechanism 5, however, permitting the quick return of the armature in case the magnet be reenergized, and permitting the slow falling back of the armature again upon further deenergization of the magnet. The gear train of this retard mechanism is entirely distinct and separate from the gear train driving the signal wheel and contact cams, and about to be mentioned.

9 designates the driving spring of the sig nal wheel and contact cam train. 10 designates the winding shaft for this spring. Motion is communicated from this shaft 10, through a gear train 11, 12, 13, and 1st to an escapement wheel 15, with which the usual pendulum escapement 16 coacts. It will be understood that there is the usual pawl-and-ratchet connection between shaft 1.0 and the first gear, 11, of this train, so that the spring may be wound without rotating the gear train backward. I have not thought it necessary to illustrate this pawl and ratchet, as the construction is well known. Connected with the vibrating escapement 16 there is a disk 17 carrying a detent pin 18, to be referred to presently.

- Normally the spring-driven gear train just mentioned, and which is the main trans mitter train, is held against running down by a detent which is actuated, to release said gear train, by fall of the retard counterweight 4 and consequent rise of the ratchet 5, beyond a certain point. To this end, there is a rock-shaft 19, suitably mounted in the frame of the instrument, and carrying an aan 20 arranged to be engaged and lifted by the ratchet mechanism 5, when the latter has risen to a predetermined point. This arm 20 will be seen clearly in Figure 5. Conveniently, it is provided with an adjustable counterweight, 21. Also, the rock-shaft 19 carries an arm 22, provided with an escapement stop fork 23-24, the two pallets 23 and 24, either of which is adapted to engage the detent pin 18, previously referred to; while when the space between these pallets isopposite pin 18, the latter may vibrate freely. Also, the rock-shaft 19 carries a cam stop-fork arm 25, the pallets 26 and 27 of which are adapted to engage suitable recesses in a disk cam 28 mounted on the main winding shaft 10. The adjustment of this cam 28 and the arm is such that when the pallets 26 and 27 are neither in a loo Whileif either cam stop-fork pallet 26 or 27, be in engagement with a notch of the disk cam 28, one or the other of the stop fork pallets 23 and 24 will engage pin 18 and prevent running of the transmitter gear train.

The shaft 12 of the transmitter gear train carries the signal wheel 29, also, behind that signal wheel, a contact-operating cam 30. Upon the main winding shaft there is a further contact-operating cam, 31,,having a projecting pin 31. The signal wheel, 29, of course operates the transmitting con tact pens, 32, which are ordinary doublebreak pens. The cam on the same shaft with the signal wheel operates sO-called transposing contacts, designated collectively by numeral 33, and comprising contact springs lettered respectively A, B, C, D and E (see Fig. 8). The cam 31 on the main winding shaft 10 operates so-called trouble contacts designated collectively by numeral 34, and individually by letters F, G, H and I; also, said cam 31 operates, by its pin 31,

so-called break contacts designated collectively by numeral 35, and individually by Letters J, K, L and M.

Referring now particularly to Figures 8 and 9, numerals 41-50 (Fig. 8) designate binding posts. A source of current supply 36 is connected to posts 41 and 43, also to ground on one side. A supervisory conductor 37 is connected to posts 44 and 47,

andanother supervisory conductor 38 is connected to posts and 46. Between conductors 37 and 38' there are various detector contact devices, S, T and U (the number may be less or greater, as circumstances dictate); these detector contact devices being, usually, automatic contact devices by the operation of which an alarm signal may be caused. One type of such detector contact device is a valve contact such as will be closed when water flow through that valve begins; but the contact device may also be a thermostat, or a burglar alarm contact. Conductors 39 and 40 lead from posts 49 and 50 to the central ofiice to which alarms and other signals are to be transmitted. Conductors 37 and 38 constitute the external circuit or controlling circuit, also in practice termed the supervisory loop.

With the instrument in normal set condition, all detector cont-acts open, and no circuit trouble in the said external circuit, there is the following closed circuit (see particularly Figure. 9, which, as stated, is a simplified form of Figure 8) from battery 36, through conductor 51 and contact springs D and C, normally in contact, and thence through conductor 52, and contact springs J and K, normally in contact, through supervisory conductor 38, contact springs L and -M, normally-in contact, conductor; 53, the

windings of controlling magnet "1', conductor 54, supervisory conductor 37, and contact springs A and B, normally in contact, back to battery. By this circuit, it will be seen, the controlling magnet 1 is energized normally; but closing of anyv of the detector contacts S, T and U will shunt out the controlling magnet 1; also breaking of either of conductors 37 and 38 will deenergize magnet 1, and grounding of conductor 38 will shunt out magnet 1, the battery being grounded. There is a branch from the above-traced circuit, from spring K, through trouble contacts I and H to spring M; also another branch, from supervisory conductor 37, through trouble contacts F and G back to conductor 37 again; the first of these branches bridging the portions of conductor 38 in which the detectors S, T and U are included, and the second of these branches bridging the corresponding portion of conductor 37; but these trouble contacts, F and G, H and, I, are normally open.

Considering now the operation of the instfrument: In winding up the instrument, the shaft 10 is turned beyond the normal or set position until arrested by the engagement'of the pin 1O with the stop 10 and magnet 1 being then energized, and its armature in the raisedposition, weight21 causes rear pallet'27 to press against the rear face of controlling cam disk 28; but in the. fully wound position of disk 28there is vno notch of that disk opposite rear pallet 27, and consequently, as soon as shaft 10 is released by the-winder, the transmitter train begins to run, and, continues to run until the first notch, 0, on the rear side of cam disk 28, comes opposite pallet 27, whereupon that pallet enters that notch, causing the stopfork 23-24 to arrest the .detent pin 18 and so bring thetransmitter to rest. -The positions of the signal wheel 29 and of the notch a relatively are such that in this running of the box from the fully wound to the normalor set position, one complete round of the box number is sent in; this being the conventional signal that the box has been fully wound and is set. Fig. 10 shows the circuit condition after the winding signal has been transmitted. Springs F and Gr, H and I, are open and hence there isa circuit through the retard magnet coils as follows: from thepositive side of thebattery, through springs D and C, to spring J; through J and K, to loop conductor-38, through springs L and M and conductor 53 to the coils of the. retard magnet lg then through loopconductor 37 and springs A and B to the grounded side ofthe battery.- Hence the retard magnet remains energized and the mechanismreinains stationary. (It may be explained here-that the signal wheel 29 commonly; contains two groupsof teeth, e. or. h ox. n mb r, the; o her. for Qme other-signal, suchforexample as. twodashes,

In Figure 1, group a constitutes the box number, and group Z) the other signal).

If now the controlling circuit be broken, or grounded between the ungrounded side of the battery and the magnet 1, as at point V, Fig. 10, said magnet will be deenergized, its counterweight at will fall slowly, and the ratchet arm 5 will rise, finally lifting arm 20 and so causing the stop-fork 23-2at to release the transmitter train, causing the latter to run until, with the instrument arranged as shown, signal b, then one round of signal a (the box number) and then signal Z) again, have been sent in; at which time trouble springs F and G, H and I, will be closed by their cam, thus completing a circuit through magnet l and drawing up the armature of that magnet, so permitting arm 20 to drop until its rear pallet 27 presses against the rear face of cam disk 28; and when the second rear notch, e, of the cam disk, comes opposite that pallet 27, the latter will enter the notch, causing stop-fork 23-24t to stop the running of the transmitter train.

During the transmission of the trouble signal, the cam disk 28, by holding the arm 25 in middle or neutral position, precludes the stopping of the train and consequent mutilation of the trouble signal.

A ground in conductor 38 of the external circuit as at point V, Fig. 10, will also cause the giving of the trouble signal, by shunting out magnet 1.

Sometimes the giving of a trouble signal is caused by disconnection or removal of battery 36, or by running down of that battery. For this contingency, a recess d is provided on the front face of disk 28, beyond the point at which the trouble signal is ended and conta'cts F and G, H and I are closed, but slightly in front of recess 6. lVhen the trouble signal is caused by a break or a ground in the external circuit, as at point V, Fig. 10, contacts F and G, H and I, by closing, and so reenergizing magnet 1, cause pallet 27 to press against the rear face of disk 28, prevents the stopping of the train when recess (Z is reached, and defers such stopping of the train until recess 6 is reached; but in case of disconnection of the battery, or other failure of current supply, of course closing of trouble contacts F and G, H and 1, cannot cause reenergization of magnet 1, and when pallet 26 is opposite recess (Z it enters that recess, causing the stopping of the train. When the current supply is renewed, magnet 1 is reenergized, and the train continues to run from recess at until recess 6 is reached, whereupon the train is stopped as before.

Now suppose that one of the detector devices, S, T or U. be operated; such operation must cause the transmissionof an alarm readily distinguishable from the rewound and trouble signals, the manner of sending of which has een explained previously.

The elfect of the operation of one of the detector devices S, T or U, is to short out magnet 1, by closing a short-circuiting contact in the external cirouit, and therefore the closing of the trouble contacts F and (I, H and I, cannot cause reenergization of said magnet. This short circuit may be traced in Fig. 11, as follows: from the positive side of the battery, through springs D and E, to point TV, through loop conductor 87, to the particular alarm contact operated, then through loop conductor 38, to spring K and back to the negative side of the line through spring J, point Y and springs C and B to the negative side of the battery. Thus the retard magnet armature will fall, releasing the mechanism, which will rotate until stopped by the mechanical stops fastened to the frame. To prevent arrest of the transmitter train while front recess (Z of the cam disk is passing pallet 26, so-called break contacts J and K, L and M, are provided, which contacts are opened by pin 31 on cam 31, just before recess 65 reaches pallet 26; the effect of such opening of the break contacts being to break, momentarily, the short around magnet 1, and so causing momentary reenergization of that magnet, long enough to permit recess (Z to pass without stopping of the transmitter train. The break contacts are closed again, and the short around magnet 1 restored, before recess 0 comes opposite pallet 27, and consequently the running of the transmitter train' is not then arrested, as it would be if the trouble signal were sent in, and the box continues to run, sending in several rounds of its box number, with intermediate signals 7), until the number of rounds constituting the complete alarm signal has been sent in. In this way full distinction is made between alarm signals and rewound or trouble signals.

A ground on conductor 38, as at V, Fig. 11, causes a short which is beyond the power of the break contacts to remove momentarily, but the transposing contacts A, B, C, D and E, which are operated at about the time of the completion of the trouble signal, transfer said grounded point V from the live side to the grounded side of the line. completing the following circuit (Fig. 11) through the retard coils. From the ground, through the battery to spring D, through D and E to point W, then to point X, through loop conductor 37, or springs G and F, then to the ground. through the retard coils 1, springs L and M and to point V. This permits the trouble contacts to energize magnet 1 during the passage of recess d past the pallet 26, and so causing the box to come to rest when recess 6 reaches pallet 27.

It will thus be seen that by means of a single set of transmitting contacts, a single transmitting mechanism, and a single controlling magnet, and, of course, suitable associated parts, I am able to send the various diiferent signals required by service conditions, with proper distinctions between the several signals.

.mitter train has been released to give the rewound signal; and if, at this time, there should be no current supply, pallet 26 will enter said recess, causing the holding of the transmitter train until current is supplied to energize magnet 1 and release the train for the sending of the rewound signal.

lVhat I claim is 1. A transmitter such as described comprising in combination an electric generator, a controlling magnet, retard mechanism operated thereby, transmitting means comprising normally energized driving means therefor, restraining means for said transmitting means, a controlling cam for said restraining means arranged to be driven by said transmitting means but normally stationary, and releasing means for said restraining means, arranged to be operated by said retard mechanism upon deenergization of said magnet, said cam arranged to cause arrest of operation of said transmitting means in the event of reenergization of said magnet, connections for an external circuit and contact means operated concurrently with said transmitting means and arranged to reenergize said magnet during the operation of said transmitting means, in the event of breakageof said external circuit, and means for transposing the connections of said external circuit with the polesof said generator to thereby permit said magnet to be reenergized in the event of the grounding of said external circuit.

2. A transmitter such as described comprising in combination transmitting means tending normally to operate, and arranged to transmit difi'erent signals according as it be allowed to operate fully or be arrested at an intermediate point in its operation, a controlling member arranged to operate with said transmitting means, a detent for said transmitting means, a magnet and retard mechanism operated thereby; said retard mechanism arranged to operate said detent to release said transmitting means upon change of magnetic condition of said magnet, said controlling member arranged to cause arrest of said transmitting means at a predetermined point of intermediate operation unless the magnetic condition of said magnet be again changed after one such change has caused starting of said transmitting means, contact means operated by said transmitting means and adapted for so changing the magnetic condition of said magnet after starting, an external super-v RICHARD M. HOPKINS.

Vitnesses GRACE HILDEBRANT,

CATHERINE J. FL MING. 

